Former Liverpool man could prevent £33.5m Newcastle United summer transfer

Former Sunderland and Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet has reportedly warned Club Brugge teammates Charles De Ketelaere against a move to Newcastle United.

De Ketelaere is just one of several names to be linked with a move to St James’ Park following the club’s new-found wealth under their Saudi Arabian-backed ownership.

The Magpies are set to target a move for a striker this summer and if De Ketelaere, who has scored 17 goals this campaign, is on the radar then the 21-year-old may take some convincing.

That is after ex-Mackem shotstopper Mignolet refused to provide a glowing review of the weather and the city as a whole.

Quoted by Belgian outlet Het Laatste Nieuws, De Ketelaere, valued at a reported £33.5million, said: “The Premier League is the highest you can go. That intensity too.

“In England, you become a better player. But I want to leave everything open.

“My girlfriend, Jozefien, must be able to continue her studies in dentistry in a good way.

“Mignolet once told me that there’s not much to do in Newcastle. And that in winter, it’s dark as early as four o’clock.”

Mignolet played at the Stadium of Light between 2010 and 2013 before leaving to join Liverpool.

Revisiting Jeff Stelling’s passionate defence of Newcastle

Now feels like a fitting time to revisit Sky Sports Soccer Saturday presenter Jeff Stelling’s passionate defence of the city in 2018 following talkSPORT’s Ian Abrahams’ comments.

Stelling ranted: “You have seen this week a radio reporter said ‘the only reason they get 52,000 at Newcastle because there’s nothing else to do in the city’

“Now, this is not a rant but he’s probably never been to St James’ Park. He’s probably never had a night out in the Bigg Market.

“He’s probably never eaten at all the wonderful restaurants. He’s probably never appreciated the marvellous architecture through Grey Street.

“He’ll never have been to the Theatre Royal. He’ll never have been to the racecourse. He’ll never have scrolled along the Quayside in the Tyne Bridge.

“I doubt he’s ever visited the Baltic Gallery. He probably doesn’t know Greggs opened their first-ever branch in Newcastle in 1951.

“He’s never had a Brown Ale and never eaten a stottie cake.

“It’s a wonderful city with loads to do and loads to eat and loads to drink. Don’t believe what you hear on the radio and trust me.”